29 March 2024, 09:07
By Furniture News Sept 26, 2016

BHS to relaunch online

BHS is set to relaunch in the UK as an online retailer with a range of lighting and home furnishing products that constitute around 75% of the most popular online items sold before it went into administration earlier this year.

BHS.com will open for business in the UK on Thursday 29th September, and over the coming weeks will add new ranges including kitchen and dining ware, and clothing items.

Unlike the old BHS platform, customers will be able to order and checkout with just two clicks. They will also be able to log on to the website with one device such as their mobile phone, and continue their shopping experience on another such as a laptop or tablet.

The new BHS, which will be headquartered in London, has 84 employees – the vast majority of whom worked for the retailer before it went into administration. David Anderson will oversee the launch of the new UK online business, with a view to recruiting an executive at a later date to run this operation.

David Anderson, MD, BHS International, says: “We are thrilled to be relaunching this iconic brand back into the UK. It had a loyal customer base with around 1.2 million British shoppers who bought from us online, and for our relaunch we have managed to secure many of the products they liked the most.

“In addition to this, we have developed a new specially designed online platform for our UK business so we are not inheriting any legacy systems, and we were able to recruit the majority of people who worked on the profitable online and international operations of BHS before it went into administration.

“So although we are starting again in the UK, we have a number of advantages over a typical startup. We are nimble and efficient, but with a great brand, strong customer base and a proven and dedicated team.”

In June, BHS International (UK), which was formed by The Al Mana Group, acquired BHS.com, the International franchise business, and the BHS brand. The Al Mana Group operates in a number of sectors including retail, automotive, real estate, media and technology. It represents a range of brands including Zara, Mango, Armani Exchange, United Colors of Benetton and Reebok.

At the time of BHS going into administration, its international and online businesses were profitable and growing, and many of the key people running these have been retained by The Al Mana Group – including David Anderson, buying director Sara Bradley and head of creative Dave West.

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